Lose twice as much weight by doing this one simple thing

Cutting out gluten? Steering clear of sugar or hitting the gym during your lunch break?

Well it turns out that (thankfully) it's a lot simpler than that.

A new study has found that those who set ambitious weight loss targets shed twice as many pounds as those who try to set more realistic goals.

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Researchers looked at over 24,000 dieters and discovered that those who lost the most weight all had something in common – they had set tough goals.

The findings were published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics and those who took part were all Slimming World members who attended regular meeting and had a body mass index of at least 30 – placing them all in the obese category.

Based on the results, obesity experts are now suggesting that the recommended 'realistic' weight loss target of 5-10% given to dieters by the NHS should be changed. Their research seems to show that it is much more fruitful for people to aim for dramatic weight loss, or their 'dream weight'.

Over the course of the study those who aimed high with their weight loss lost almost double the amount of weight as those who professed to wanting to lose less than 10% of their original body weight.

The study's co-author, Professor Amanda Avery, a nutritionist at Nottingham University, commented that although the recommended 'realistic' weight loss targets set by the NHS and NICE are there to avoid dieter's feeling disappointed, recommending people 'place limits' on weight loss suggests that they are not capable of achieving bigger goals.

'This research shows that, when it comes to losing weight, it's best to inspire people to set the weight loss target they would personally really like to achieve,' she explained. 'This will help with their motivation as, if it is really their dream weight, they'll be far more committed to achieving it.

'As our study found that people who set their own personal target were 10 times more likely to be successful.'

So, 2017's simple weight loss tip seems to be shoot for the moon – because of gravity you naturally weigh less out there anyway.